Tomato plants (leafs)

Im completely new to composting and my soil looks pretty beat up , im planning on skipping the winter planting an putting my beds to sleep... grass, leafs, cardboard and worm composting.... but how about tomato leaves and the rest of the plants that are almost done for...?? they are clean an not disease would the leaves be enough and not the stems or roos.. any ideas???

I have composted in place and gotten health volunteers, year after year. Convention wisdom says rotate the vegtable families(night shade, cruciferous, etc), as much for pests as disease.


Permie-style guilds should have fewer such issues as they attract predator insects and discourage the spread of plant specific pests or diseases.

Martin, if the plants are healthy and just didn't produce, I would chop the whole thing up and toss it in my compost. The stems may not fully break down, but organic matter is organic matter when it goes back to the soil.

I've also done as William suggested and just chopped it in place, let the winter do it's work and build soil on the spot. Not as much work as a compost pile either.